Things to Do at Home During Quarantine

In the midst of the global coronavirus, we’re all called to self-isolate—leaving millions of families scrambling to find things to do at home to keep everyone sane and entertained. It's a difficult time for the entire world, but we now have a golden opportunity to focus on each other and spend precious time with those who matter most.

Check out our list of things to do at home to pass the time.

Explore the world from home

Did you know you can do virtual tours of some of the most famous zoos and museums? There are so many exciting options to learn something new, revisit a favorite exhibit, and help get the kids interested in art, history, and animals. From Egyptology and dinosaurs to classical and modern art, virtual tours of world-class institutions such as Paris’s Louvre, New York’s Guggenheim Museum, Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, and much more provide a unique outlet for the whole family to learn together about our amazing world. Here’s a list of the best virtual tours from museums around the globe.

Game night—every night!

Families and friends who are living together can enjoy some playful competition with classic card games, like Phase 10, Skip Bo, and Uno. You can also play favorite board games like Monopoly and CandyLand or try out new, unique options like the Sock Game and Count Your Chickens! for younger families, or The Chameleon for older groups. Whether you’re into traditional board games or card games, every night can be loads of fun!

Virtual games are also a great option with the current need for social distancing. Enjoy the interactive game of Quiplash which lets you play with others around your city or the world! Quiplash isn’t just hilarious, it’s also a great way to bond with friends and family. The object of the game is to come up with an answer to a random question you think a player will most likely choose—time to put those inside jokes to use! We foresee that this will be on your regular list of things to do at home. Check out other virtual games just like Quiplash from Jackbox Games.

Get crafty

Get your family’s creative juices flowing. With so much modern technology taking time away from traditional handcrafts, perhaps now’s your chance to turn the screens off. New activities help people discover hobbies they never thought they would enjoy. Create some DIY projects using what you already have at home. From creating finger puppets and putting on a show to making your own jewelry or putting on your own wine and paint night—you’ll find tons of fun ideas on Pinterest.

Stay centered with yoga

Even if you can’t go to the gym, you can stay in shape at home! A great way to keep both your mind and body healthy without equipment is practicing yoga. For adults—get up early to watch the sunrise while you do your daily yoga. It will calm your mind and set you up to tackle your day. You can also do sunset yoga to help calm things down, get relaxed, and enjoy better sleep. If you have children, they can also enjoy the benefits of yoga with YouTube’s Cosmic Kids Yoga.

Let loose & dance

Being cooped up in the house all day doesn’t mean you can’t keep moving. Give the whole family a full-body workout by dancing. It’s not just good for the body but also for the soul—so turn up the music and get movin’! There are tons of dance tutorials on YouTube to learn some new moves or just freestyle. If you have kiddos, they’ll love the YouTube channel GoNoodle. It's packed with tons of fun videos to help them move, shake, and groove! For the older kids, you can also break out your best formal wear and host your own prom at home.

Peaceful picnic time

Don’t worry about coming up with a lunch or dinner to cook at home that everyone will enjoy. It's a great time to get some takeout to create a fun picnic in your living room or backyard while supporting local restaurants. This is a perfect opportunity for that date night you’ve been postponing or the tea party with the kids.

Cupcake wars

Get your sprinkles, crafts, and phone ready for this hilarious family activity! Who wouldn’t like a game that involves food AND a homemade commercial? You can even make it a challenge with teams of two if you want some friendly competition. Start with baking delicious cupcakes. Have each member decorate their cupcake to their liking and create their very own cupcake packaging. You can find some ideas here.

Be creative—use what you already have at home such as leftover cardboard boxes, ribbons, gift wrap, construction paper, markers, etc. Then, work together to write a script for your cupcake company commercial—be as wacky as you please! The final step: film your commercial on your phone. Don’t hesitate to use some fun apps or stickers to add some flavor and extra laughs.

Mad science

Give the kids a head start for their future science courses by completing science-in-a-box kits! From growing crystals and developing terrariums to unearthing “fossils” or building robots—there are tons of science kits kids will love! Some boxed kits start at just $10, and with Amazon, you don’t even need to leave your home to get them. They're a fabulous way to get everyone’s imaginations racing with some wacky experiments!

Vacation vision board

Vision boards are fun, creative projects to help you plan for the future, find inspiration, and make some goals to keep moving forward. Imagine your next adventure and create a board that illustrates just that. Cut up your magazines and find words, colors, and pictures that you can put together for your future dream vacation. Use materials you already have at home and be as creative as possible. This is a great opportunity to plan out your next getaway and find something to look forward to when routines go back to normal.

Green thumbs, get to work!

Take some time to finally get a gardening project going! This is a fun family activity that will be educational and in the long run—delicious. Not to mention saving you time and money by cutting back on things you need to pick up at the grocery store. Gardening is one of the best things to do at home that helps you to relax, get creative, and feel a sense of reward. Fresh basil for homemade pizza, rosemary for baked chicken, tomatoes for spaghetti—think about all of the possibilities!

Don’t stop learning

Remember when you wished you had more time to learn? Well, here’s your chance! Take advantage of free learning resources online and other educational opportunities for the entire family.

For adults

We all can benefit from new skills. With tons of free courses to choose from, you can pick up something entirely new or something to build on what you already know. Online courses range in subjects from health and medicine, computer science, business, and even art and design. And get this—there are hundreds of free courses provided by Ivy League institutions! Check here for a list of online courses.

For kids

With the kids out of school for an uncertain amount of time, it can be stressful to ensure that your kids are keeping up with their studies and continually learning. Luckily, there are tons of online resources for every age and grade to keep your kids’ minds stimulated. Here are some great online resources with a variety of subjects ranging from art, science, reading, and more: Artforkidshub.com, Khan Academy, Scholastic.

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We may be experiencing unprecedented times but can take this opportunity to spend precious time with family—time we often can’t find in our regular schedules. We hope you and your loved ones stay safe, happy, and healthy.

Do you have other ideas you’d like to share? Comment on our blog below!